Cabinet approves draft APBn Act

The Cabinet on Monday gave its both in-principle and final approval to the draft ‘Armed Police Battalions Act, 2026’, paving the way for expanded responsibilities and investigative powers for the Armed Police Battalion (APBn).

The approval was given at the 18th meeting of the Cabinet, held at the Secretariat on Monday with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair. The draft law was prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

According to a press briefing and a notification issued by the Cabinet Division after the meeting, the proposed legislation aims to replace and modernise the existing Armed Police Battalions Ordinance, 1979 and establish a new law in Bangla to make the force more public-friendly and better suited to contemporary security challenges.

The draft law was also published on the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs to seek public opinion before receiving Cabinet approval.

Under the proposed legislation, the existing 1979 ordinance will be repealed. However, provisions have been included to preserve and validate activities, actions and proceedings carried out under the previous ordinance.

The draft law stipulates that the APBn, which operates under the Bangladesh Police, will function under the control and supervision of an Additional Inspector General of Police.

The battalion will be entrusted with maintaining public security, ensuring the safety of VIPs and providing security for installations declared important by the government.